Molding press



May 8, 1*951 H. l. RElsKlND ETAL 2,552,458

HOLDING PRESS Filed Jan. 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gacre Mil/el May 8, 1951 H. l. RElsKlNo ET AL 2,552,458

HOLDING PRESS Filed J,an. 50. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY May 8, 1951 H. l. RElsKlND ET AL 2,552,458

HOLDING PRESS Filed Jan. 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 atented May 8, 1951 MOLDING PRESS Hillel I. Reiskind, Elkins Park, Pa., and George W. Longacre, Swedesboro, N. J., assignors to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application January 30, 1948, Serial No. 5,344

8 Claims. l

This invention relates, in general, to improvements in presses for molding plastic materials. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in presses for carrying out a series of molding operations in a completely automtaic manner after the presses have been loaded by an operator and a starting switch has been aotuated. It also relates specifically to improvements in multiple type presses in which a plurality of sets of pressing platens are loaded by an operator at a single loading station but are moved to individual pressing stations for the application of molding pressure and any other operations necessary to the carrying out of a complete molding cycle upon the materials.

The present invention also relates to improved safety features for protecting a press operator against possible injury and to apparatus providing improved simplicity of press operation and higher rates of production of molded articles.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved molding press of the multiple type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple type molding press having a single loading station and a plurality of separate pressing stations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved multiple molding press of the reciprocating type which is automatic in operation after loading and starting of a molding cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple type molding press for carrying out a molding cycle automatically and in which one set of platens is not returned to a loading station until other sets of platens are positioned at their respective pressing stations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multiple type molding press including means for carrying out a heating and cooling cycle during each molding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide molding press having improved safety features including an automatically opened loading door.`

These and other objects will be more apparent and the invention will be better understood from the following speciication including the drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a molding press embodying certain features of the present invention and showing, especially, the piping layout,

Fig. 2 is a simplied schematic wiring diagram for the control switches included in the apparatus of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the mechanism for opening and closing the press platens of Fig. 1, automatically,

Fig. 3A is a plan View of the apparatus of Fig, 3,

Fig. 4 is a partially cut-away front view of the mechanism for automatically opening the press loading door,

Fig. 5 is a section view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a front view partially in section taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of part of the apparatus of Fig. 4 with the front plate of a bell crank removed. y

Although the improvements in molding presses which are a part of the present invention can obviously be applied to presses for compression molding of any product molded of plastic materials, whether or not heating and cooling cycles are required, the embodiment which will be more fully described hereinafter will be illustrated in connection with apparatus for molding disc phonograph records by the application of hydraulic pressure to pairs of platens faced with dies having grooved sound tracks formed there- 1n.

Asillustrated in Figure 1, the apparatus includes, in general, a pressing station A, including a hydraulic press 2 and a pressing station B, including a similar hydraulic press il, which are positioned one on either side of a loading station indicated generally at C. The entire front of the apparatus, including the two presses, is adapted to be covered by a metallic shield (not shown) for the protection of the operator.

At the loading station C, there is an aperture in the protective shield to permit loading of the presses by the operator. This aperture is exposed by the opening of a loading door e suspended from pulleys 8 and balanced by a counterweight l0 so that the door is automatically raised by the counterweight and may easily be lowered by one hand with the application of a smail amount of force.

The press 2 is adapted to receive a set of platens which may comprise a single hinged pair consisting of a lower platen i2 and an upper platen I4 but may also be adapted to accommodate a stack of platens constituting a plurality of pressing units. 'I'he other press ll is adapted to receive a similar pair of platens l5 and Hl, or more, as desired. The lower platen of each set is adapted to ride on tracks (not shown) which extend between the loading station C and the pressing stations A and B.

Means are provided for moving each set of platens between the loading station and its respective pressing station. For example, the lower platen i2 of the set adapted to be received by the press 2 is connected to a chain 2B passing around pulleys 22, 2li, 26 and 28. Alternatively, a cable or belt may be used instead of a chain. A link Sii of the chain 2li is attached to a member 32 extending outwardly from one end of a piston rod 3d. On the opposite end of the piston rod 3i: is a piston 36 adapted to t snugly within the inner walls of a cylinder 38 and to reciprocate therein with a length of stroke determined by the distance between the loading station C and the pressing position in the press 2 at pressing station A. In the drawing, the distance between the loading station C and each pressing station A or B has been exaggerated for convenience of illustration and to avoid crowding.

The piston 36 is moved back and forth within the cylinder in either direction as desired by the admission of fluid under pressure to thev proper end. For example, in order to move the piston toward the right, fluid is admitted to the left hand end of the cylinder through an entrance port Il@ under the control of a speed control valve i2 and to move the piston to the left, fluid is admitted to the right hand end of the cylinder through an entrance port i6 under the control of speed control valve 45. In the embodiment shown, the iiuid used for applying pressure within the cylinder is air, but, obviously, other suitable fluids, such as oil or steam, could be used.

In a similar manner, the lower platen I5 oi the set adapted to be received by the press il is attached to another chain @E running over pulleys 52, tiri and et, and a link 58 of the chain d8 is connected to a member 6c connected to one end of a piston rod 62 on the opposite end of which is a piston t4 adapted to reciprocate within a cylinder 36. This cylinder has a left hand entrance port t@ and a right hand entrance port 'il and corresponding speed control valves l2 and 'i v g The movement of the sets of platens into their respective presses causes the actuation of certain press valves and limit switches having various'control functions. For example, the movement of platens i2 and I4 into pressing posi- Ation in the press 2 causes inward movement of spring-biassed plunger 'i6 having stops I, 8'0 and 2 afxed thereto. The stop 'i3 presses .against a lever arm Sli opening the normally closed air valve 36 and thus opens a passage in the air line 88 from timer ed to the diaphragm of three-way valve S2. The stop 8@ similarly opens a passage in the air line 9S, through normally closed valve 9,4 by actuation of a lever 96, from timer it) to the three-way valve 52. The stop 32 closes a normally open microswitch M4 having a 'control function which will be described later. When the platens are withdrawn from the press 2, the biassing pressure of the spring pushes plunger it in an outward direction, thus closing valves Se and 94 and opening limit Switch |04.

In a similar manner, the set of platens iii and i8, when moved into position in press 4 push inwardly a spring biassed plunger |56 having stops it, Hil and SI2, which close valves l'lli and ii and open limit switch Hi8, respectively. The valve H4 is in the airline |22 leading from the timer it@ to three-way valve |22 and valve H6 is in the air line |215,1 leading from the timer 4 Si] to three-way valve |26. The function of limit switch I I will be pointed out later.

Further details of operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention will now be given. It will be assumed, for descriptive purposes, that the platens i6 and i8 have previously beenV loaded with a charge of material to be molded and have been closed and are in position in the press ll at pressing station B undergoing a cycle of molding operations. The other set of platens l2 and i4 is in position at the loading section C, the platens are in the open position ready to receive a charge o moldable material and the loading door t is open to permit access by the operator.

The operator places a charge of material between the platens and lowers the loading door 6 to the closed position until it closes a microswitch |28 and, thereupon, starts an automatic cycle of operations. The door is also held in its closed position by means of a latch |33 which will be more particularly described later.

Referring now, also, tothe wiring `diagram of Figure 2, the closing of microswitch |28 `completes a circuit through closed limit switch H8 on press i and the motor |32 of timer 'me which controls the operation of press 2. rihel Vtimer may be of a well known type comprising a drum carrying a series'of Vparallel grooves having cam segments fixe-d thereon of predetermined and varying length. Upon the cam segments of each track rides a cam follower connected to a shaft carrying a valve closure member. As the timer is driven by the motor |32, the drum rotates and the camY followers are raised and lowered in a predetermined sequence, thus opening or closing corresponding valves opening into an -air manifold.

The motor |32 causes the drum of Vtimer itil to rotate. One of the timer valves is opened allowing 40 lb. air pressure to enter the airline |26 and to be applied through this line via the open press valve H4 to the diaphragm of threeway valve |22 and also through the branch air line |34 to the diaphragm of three-way -va-lve |22@ The actuation of the diaphragm of valve i3d by 40 lb. air pressure through air line |313l opens an air passage in this valve to permit `V lb. air pressure from the air supply to be applied through air line |33 and branch lines Uli?, m2 and |45 and through air entrance port dii tothe lefthand end of cylinder 38, thus causing piston 36 to move from left to right and, consequently, causing the chain 2e to move in a -counterclookwise direction. The set of platens l2 and l5 attached to chain 2li is thus moved from loading station C toward pressing station-A.

As the platens move toward press 2, they are closedV automatically by the apparatus illustrated more particularly in Figures 3 and 3A. To the top of the press are bolted a pair of brackets |46 extending between which is Van axle Hi8 supported on bearings |5. The ends of the axle are extended throughrand beyond the bearings. In both outer ends of the axle which extend beyond the bearings are bored parallel cylindrical passages E52 extending through a partially out away diameter of the axle. A fixed cylindrical sleeve |54 is inserted in each of the passages. In

each of the sleeves 15s, there is slidably posif toward the press 2, the upper plate I4 is guided to its closed position opposing the lower platen I2 by the lever arms |56 which not only pivot at the bearings |50 but slide backward through the sleeves |54 to accommodate themselves to the shortening distance between the lip of the upper platen and the bearings |50. Obviously, when the press platens are again moved out of the press to the loading position, the upper platen is automatically guided to the open position by the lever arms.

Returning once more to the operation of the air cylinder 38 as shown in Figure l, 40 lb. air pressure is also applied during the same part of the cycle of timer |00 through air line |20 through the open press valve ||4 to the diaphragm of three-way valve |22. Valve |22 is a, reverse acting valve and the application of the 40 lb. air pressure to its diaphragm causes the opening of an air passage in this valve which permits air to exhaust from the other end of cylinder 38 through port 44.

Also, during the same portion of the cycle of timer |08, another timer valve opens permitting l0 lb. air pressure to ilow in air line |58 actuating a diaphragm in valve |60 which opens a passage in this valve permitting steam from the steam inlet to flow through the line |62 to the platens I2 and I4 through branches |62A and |6213; respectively, heating the platens to a desired temperature. l

As the drum of timer |00 continues to rotate and when the platens I2 and I4 are in pressing position in press 2, another timer valve opens allowing 40 lb. air pressure to be applied through air line 98, including the now open limit valve 84, to the diaphragm of three-way Valve |02 in a manner such that a passage is opened in this valve permitting hydraulic iiuid to flow from the hydraulic fluid supply inlet through` hydraulic line |66 to the pressure cylinder |68 of press 2. The application of hydraulic pressure to the. cylinder |68 forces hydraulic ram |10 upward and exerts proper molding pressure on platens |,2 and I4 against a block |12. To permit the slight stretching of chain 20 caused by the `upward movement of platen I2, it may have a take-up spring (not shown) positioned between any two suitable links.

In order to prevent the stopping of the motor |32 driving the drum of time |00 before its cycle is completed, which undesired event would normally occur when the other set of platens is returned to loading position, a control switch |14 is positioned with relation to the drum of timer |00 such that as the drum starts to rotate, a cam follower forces a plunger outward and closes the switch. This completes an alternate circuit from the 160 V. supply line through the motor and keeps it supplied with current even though the loading door switch I 28 be opened due to the opening of the loading door 6.

After the timer I 00 continues through its cycle for a predetermined period of time, the valve controlling the air pressure in air line |58 closes and, consequently, closes the steam passage in valve |68 cutting off the steam supply to the platens I2 and I4. Immediately thereafter, a timer valve opens to admit air through an airline |16 to a diaphragm in three-way valve |18 which opens a passage in this valve permitting cold water to enter from the water supply and through branch water line |80 to the main line |62, thus permitting cold` water Vto enter the platens and chill them." This, in turn, causes the cooling of the molded article, in this instance phonograph record, between the dies.

After a further predetermined period, the timer closes the valve controlling the airI pressure in air line |16, thus closing the water passage in valve |18 and the water begins to drain from the platens by gravity through drain line |82. At about the same time, the timer valve controlling air pressure in line |64 closes and thus closes the hydraulic fluid passage in valve |02. The consequent lowering of the hydraulic pressure in hydraulic line |66 causes the hydraulic piston to return to its lower position releasing the molding pressure.

At the same time, the timer valve controlling the air pressure in the air line |20 and branch line |34 closes, cutting off the 40 lb. air pressure to the diaphragms of valves |36 and |22 which consequently cuts oif the supply of 80 lb. air pressure to the branch air line |44.

This part of the timer cycle is ended by the opening of timer switch |14 which cuts off the power supply to the motor |32.

The platens I2 and I4 remain in the press 2 until the other set of platens I6 and I8 have been loaded at the loading station C and have moved into the other press 4. The moving of platens I6 and I8 into press 4 closes the press limit valve II4, allowing air from valve |22 to exhaust back through timer |00, thereby closing Valve |22 and allowing 80 1b. air pressure to enter the right hand end of air clyinder 38 through air line |184 and entrance port 44. This causes piston 36 to move from right to left and, consequently, causes chain 20 to move in a clockwise direction pulling platens I2 and I4 out of the press 2 and back to the loading station C.

As the platens move toward the loading station, they momentarily close a normally open microswitch |86 and trip open a latch designated generally at |30, releasing the closed loading door 6 which then is raised automatically by its counterweight I0.

The mechanism of the loading door latch and its actuating means are shown more particularly in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 1. The latch comprises, in general, a toothed member |88 and an escapement lever |80. Suitable mechanism is provided for operating the latch either manually, or automatically by the movement of either set of platens.

The toothed member |88 is attached near the lower edge of the loading door 6. The: escapement lever |80 is pivotally supported at |92 between the forked arms |94 of a bracket |96, which bracket is provided with a plate |88 bolted to the supporting frame 200 of the press. The escapement lever may be substantially Y shaped, having a leg portion 262 and two arms 204 and 206. One of the arms 264 is an upwardly extending member terminating in a toothed portion 208 which is adapted to engage the toothed member |88 when the loading door is in closed position. The other arm 206 extends rearwardly and at its extremity is pivotally connected to a. shackle 2|0. The leg portion 202 of the escapement lever extends outwardly from the frame of the press, ending in a handle 2|2 which the operator may raise when it is desired to open the door 6 nonautomatically.

The shackle 2|0 comprises an upper forked portion 2I4 and a lower forked portion 2I6, the axes of the two forked portions being positioned at right angles to each other. The lower forked the escapement arm 296 to which it is pivotally bolted." The upper 'forked portion. 2id oi the shackle pivotally supports the center of a tripping bar 2lb by means or" a bolt 2I9. When the center of-the tripping bar is depressed, the downward motion of the bar is transmitted through the shackle 2&3 to the rearwardly extending arm of the escapement lever. This results in the lever rotating about its pivotal support |92 and causes the upwardly extending arm 2512 of the lever to rock backward, disengaging the teeth of thel latch-and permitting the door ii to be pulled upward by action or" the counterweight l0.

There will now be described the mechanism for automatically depressing the tripping bar, said mechanism being more particularly illustra-ted in Figures 4 and '1. Positioned at either side of the loading door are bell crank levers 211211 and 2G26. Each of these levers is pivotally supported on the frame of the press by bolts 24a. and 2Mb, respectively, and comprises a iront plate 2.45ct or liib and a parallel rear plate 2118s, or 248i) spaced a suitable distance apart. in its normal rest position, each pair of parallel plates includes a pair of upwardly extending lever arms 250a or 25th, the extremities of which are iastened together with bolts 252e or 25219. A horizontally extending arm is, in effect, provided on each of the levers by bolting each pair of plates together with bolts 252er or 25%, suitably spaced horizontally from the pivotal points Edda and 241th andadjacent the inner or leading edges of the plates.

The bell crank levers are maintained in their normal restV position; that is, with the arms. 25041 or 25th extending upwards, by biassing springs 258 and 2te positioned between thertwo bell cranks and attached thereto by means or lugs 266e. or 2Sb constituted by a portion or" bolts 2520J or 252D extending through the rear plates Zai-8a, or 22%. The springs may extend ior only a part of the span between the two bell cranks and may be joined through a bar 2%2 connected to an end or each spring. 'Y

The tripping bar 2|?, is provided with flanges 2640s and 26417 adjacent its ends. These flanged portions are positioned between the parallel plates or the bell cranks such that their iiat 'upper` surfaces are located below the horizontal lever arm bolts and 2523i-, respectively. The

plates of the bell cranks thus serve as guide means for the tripping bar.

rlhe action of the above described mechanism in automatically opening the loading door 'is as follows-z Say, for example, that platens t2 and I4, having been subjected to a pressing cycle in press 2, are being returned to the loading station C for re-loading. The leading edge oi lower platen I 2 strikes the outer edge of upwardly extending arm 2590i of the bell crank 222cv, causing the crank to rotate about its pivotal bolt 244er. This depresses the horizontally positioned bolt Zeta, causing it to press downwardly against theange iia of the tripping bar 2id. 'Ihe downward motion of the tripping bar is also transmitted through its pivot bolt 2id causing the escapernent lever lili) to rotate about its pivotal support EQ2, as previously described, and disengaging the door latch. When the trailing edge of the platen i2 has cleared the end of arm 250e, the biasing tension oi springs 25d and 25B brings the bell-crank 2420, back to its original rest position.

. The return of the trippingl mechanism to its normal position is also aided by the biassing pressure of a spring Y266 seated in bracket |96, which spring'extends into a seat formed in the upwardly extending arm 204 of the escapement lever |90, the forward pressure of the spring 26B against the arm 204 being transmitted through the rearwardly extending arm 2% of the escapement lever tothe shacklev ZIBV andv tripping bar2 i8.

By means of the operation of the above described mechanism, ther loading door S 'is automatically opened when a set of platens is at the loading station ready to have the molded article removed and a fresh charge inserted.

When. the platens have been re-loaded and the loading door 6 has been pulled down to its closed position, the, platens automatically are pui-led back into the press 2 but the latching mechanism remains. unactuated. since the bell crank 24211, is rocked outwardly and thus the bolt de does not depress .the tripping bar.

Various modifications of the above described door opening mechanism will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.V Electromagnetic release mechanism actuated by a tripping switch could, for example, also, be used. The essential thing is that the` loading door beopened automatically just as the platens arrive at the loading station inl order to have. a maximum safety factor and minimumlossiof time in re-loading. Y

' The previously described momentary contact ofi the platens i2 and I4 with mi'croswitch |86 closes av circuit through the motor of timer |06, again starting the timer. As soon as the timer drum starts to rotate, timer switch 74 is again closed, applying 110 v. current through a circuit to the timer motor, which keeps the motor in operation after the switch- Hit isV again released, due toi the moving to one side of the platens. When the timerstarts, a timer air valve is opened applying 40 lb. air pressure through air line |56 to the diaphragm of Valve ii' opening the passage thereiinwhich permits steam to enter the platens,

preheating them' for the next cycle.Y After a predetermined peri'od' of preheating, the timer valve shuts oi the 40 lb. air'pressure through line |58, closing thesteam passage through valve |6113. The timer switch |114' is` then opened and the motor stopsfonce: more. This completes onev entire cycle of operationsl for press 2". Y

The operation of they other press :i is exactly the same except, of course, that the operations are, controlled by timer sa! driven by a motor 220 while another set ofvalves and switches controls thef operation.y The operation of timer switch 222 corresponds. to that of the switch |74. The microswitch. 224 corresponds in operation to microswitch [86, loading door switch |28 being commonto both presses.

The valve; 226 admits steam to platens4 l5 and |281' through; line 22:8 having branches 228A and 228B, While. valveY 230' admits water Vthereto through branch line 232. The operation of these valves corresponds to that of'valves Iii and |18, respectively. The valve i2@ admitsV hydraulic fluid tothe cylinder 23@ ofthe press 4` through the line 2365 forY operation of its hydraulic ram 238 when l-'imtvalve I Il?k is open.

Y WiFi-thI regard to moving platens I0 and I8 between the loading station C and the pressing station B, the valves ,2t-10 and 92 act similarly in admitting airto and exhausting it from cylinder 6'6 to the valves |22 andA |36 functioning with re- Ysprect'to the first cylinder 38.

Thepress limit switch |04 also acts ma similar mannerto switch, ||8V in preventing the platens I6 and I8 from returning to the. loading station before the other set of platens has been positioned in press 2.

There has thus been described a molding press by means of which an operator, loading at a single station, can control two or more presses with a maximum of speed. The arrangement of the valves and timing mechanism is such that different articles having considerably different molding cycles can be molded simultaneously at the different pressing stations, if desired, Since valving and timing is independently controlled even though interlocked. The entire operation is also entirely automatic after the closing of the loading door.

We claim as our invention:

1. A multiple type press for molding articles, comprising a plurality of sets of pressing platens, separate pressing stations for each of said sets, a single loading station adapted to accommodate only one of said sets at a time, a loading door at said loading station, independent means for alternately moving each of said sets of platens between said loading station and its respective pressing station, means associated with each of said sets of platens for performing a cycle ci desired molding operations thereon, and means located at said loading station for initiating a completely automatic series of events in response to the closing of said loading door at said loading station, said events comprising closing a set of platens, moving said set of platens to its pressing station, carrying out said cycle of molding operations, returning the -platens to said loading station, and opening said set of platens, all in a desired time sequence.

2. In a multiple type molding press a plurality of sets of platens, separate pressing stations for each of said sets, means for performing a cycle of molding operations upon each oi said sets, a single loading station for all of said sets, said loading station being adapted to accommodate only one of said sets at a time, and independent means for alternately moving each of said sets between the loading station and its respective pressing station.

3. A press according to claim 2 including means at said loading station for initiating a completely automatic series of operations upon each of said sets, said series comprising moving a set oi said platens to its pressing station, performing said cycle of molding operations and returning the set of platens to the loading station.

4. A press according to claim 3 in which said initiating means comprises a loading door and switch means actuated by the closing of said door.

5. A multiple type molding press comprising a plurality of sets oi platens and separate pressing stations to accommodate each of said sets, a.

loading station, means for alternately moving each of said sets between its respective pressing station and the loading station, means associated with each of said sets for performing a cycle of molding operations thereon, means for automatically carrying out in timed sequence a series of events comprising the moving of each of said sets from the loading station to its pressing station, said cycle of molding operations and the returning of said set to the loading station after the completion of its molding cycle and means for preventing the return of any of said sets 0f platens to the loading station while another of said sets is positioned thereat.

6. In an automatic molding press comprising 1) a set of platens, (2) a loading station including a loading door, and (3) a pressing station, means for moving said set of platens between the loading station and the pressing station, means for automatically closing and for opening said platens in proper sequence while said platens are in motion, means responsive to the closing of said door for initiating the movement of said platens from said loading station to said pressing station and, means responsive to the movement of said platens from said pressing station to said loading station for opening said door automatically.

7. A press according to claim 6 wherein said means for opening said door includes means for accomplishing the opening in timed relation to the arrival of said platens at said loading station.

8. A multiple type automatic molding press comprising a plurality of sets of platens, a corresponding plurality of pressing stations, a single loading station including a loading door, independent means for moving each of said sets of platens between the loading station and a pressing station, means responsive to the closing of said door for initiating the movement of each oi said sets of platens from said loading station to its respective pressing station and means responsive to the movement of any of said sets of platens from a pressing station to said loading station for opening said door automatically.

HILLEL I. REISKIND. GEORGE W. LONGACRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

